Hi,
Going on a trip to the east coast and was wondering if a change in air pressure could fire off a seizure. I've been living in Western Canada for 20 years where it's about 4000 ft above sea level. Anyone got any info.
Martin
Dave ???? - 19 Aug 2003 22:01 GMT
Howdy!
Change in air pressure doesn't do anything in my case.
I've got sleep apnea and use a cpap machine (constant positive air pressure)
which instantaniously changes the air pressure without any ill effects.

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Dave ????
http://www.howdydave.com
Hi,
Going on a trip to the east coast and was wondering if a change in air
pressure could fire off a seizure. I've been living in Western Canada for 20
years where it's about 4000 ft above sea level. Anyone got any info.
Martin
gaross - 20 Aug 2003 05:16 GMT
Do you notice any reaction (auras, szrs.) when Rain or Snow is moving in?
I used to get headaches before the weather front arrived, sometimes with
Auras or a 'Brain Fog' feeling. I assume the falling Air Pressure was
causing blood vessels to Puff Up, causing those Auras.
I don't get them as strong now that I'm 'controlled', but I get a Mild
'Brain Fog' still during air pressure falling. Rising air pressure doesn't
produce any effect.
(Mine are Right Temporal Lobe-based -- now usually called Complex Partial
Seizures.)
If you're going before Late Sept. I'd like to know how things go...
Since the Only time I get auras now is during Pressure Changes (above), I'd
like some idea, similar to your concerns, if my 8+ hour trip Toronto to
Hawaii would be a concern.... I had planned to take along a 'whack' of
Ativan to suppress anything I might encounter. But that length of time in a
'steel tube' will be the first time I'll be that enclosed since onset in
1993... G.R.
Hi,
Going on a trip to the east coast and was wondering if a change in air
pressure could fire off a seizure. I've been living in Western Canada for 20
years where it's about 4000 ft above sea level. Anyone got any info.
Martin
Scott Brown - 20 Aug 2003 13:22 GMT
Changes in air pressure are an excellent seizure
trigger for some people. It has the same effect on
some as flashing lights do for others. I cannot
ride more than two or three floors in an elevator
without getting a simple partial, myself.
Some people can't do airplanes-it's a sure trigger
for them. Some people seize in the shower when
warm water gets in their ear and causes the gas
contained in the inner structures to expand. In
India squirting warm water in the ear is a test
given to see if it will trigger a seizure.
Some people are very sensitive to sudden changes
in barometric pressure as the weather changes.
All of this boils down to the same strange inner
ear - brain connection. I don't know the mechanism
behind it anymore than I know why some people
are photosensitive but I've read so many reports
of it that I believe it to be fact.
Miller - 21 Aug 2003 06:11 GMT
Whenever I flew on a plane I was fine during the flight and immediately
afterwards, it was during the next 24 hrs. after I left the airport in
which I would have a Grand Mal Seizure. I normally had complex
partial's on a regular basis but it became routine that whenever I flew
I was bound to have a GM as a result. It was really wierd.
Now I'm seizure free for almost 13 mos. but I'm nervous to fly still,
but I guess I should go for it and see what happens.
Ren